When the Red Cross Capital in collaboration with FC Copenhagen opens its doors to a Christmas party in Parken on December 24, Kristian will take on a very special role that must be said to be far removed from his daily work with IT.

While children and adults braid Christmas hearts and eat the last Christmas meal, Kristian puts on the red costume, attaches the white beard to his chin and places a pillow on his stomach.

In a moment he will enter the room next door to all the children buzzing around.

– They have an idea that something exciting might happen. They have a feeling that some gifts will be handed out. But who will do it? Is it Santa Claus? And it turns out that it is actually Santa Claus, says Kristian.

This is the second time this year that Kristian will be a volunteer Santa Claus – and he has been looking forward to surprising the children again on Christmas Eve all year.

– For me, it is a completely natural thing to be Santa Claus and be with children and adults who need some love at Christmas, says Kristian and continues:

– It's the icing on the cake that Santa Claus is coming, and generally both young and old children have been looking forward to something coming.

 

A very special atmosphere

Kristian's role as Santa Claus is quite clear. At some point during the afternoon, after eating and cutting garlands, Kristian changes clothes in an adjacent room, where a decorated Christmas tree is also located. And when Kristian is dressed and ready, the doors open.

– Then I appear and say: “Ho, Ho, Ho” and hand out gifts together with other volunteers to the up to 100 children who participate.

Afterwards, they all dance around the Christmas tree a few times and sing Danish Christmas carols. And it's that moment in particular that Kristian remembers most clearly from last year.

– It's probably the joy and commitment that was there dancing around the Christmas tree and singing along to the songs. I thought that in this day and age, the children might not want to join in, but they were all committed from the start.

Kristian adds that a great deal of credit probably goes to the musicians who set the mood by playing the accordion and singing along.

– The children might not know all the lyrics, and I probably couldn't either. I can't sing, but I can shout loudly, so that's an advantage. But it was really nice to experience being 50-60, maybe 100 children dancing around the Christmas tree. That's something I think is really nice.

 

“It just gives hope for humanity”

 Once the gifts are distributed, Santa disappears again before Kristian returns and helps end the Christmas party.

For Kristian, the atmosphere at the Christmas party in the Park is quite special. The other volunteers make it cozy to be there, and Kristian enjoys being creative, so he looks forward to helping families with children make beaded plates and braid Christmas hearts that they can take home and decorate with during their Christmas holidays.

– I'm really looking forward to doing those little things that actually make a small difference for those who come. They're small things, but when you have a little more energy than others might have, you can make a difference to a Christmas event like this. I see that volunteers and employees from the Red Cross do that on an evening like this. And it just gives hope for humanity.

For Kristian, it's fantastic to be part of a large team of volunteers who help put together an event like the Christmas party for over a hundred people for five hours.

– You are part of a team that together wants to make a difference for some people who may not have as many opportunities as the rest of us. I think it is impressive that there are so many who volunteer and help on Christmas Eve.

 

Kristian is ready for another year as Santa Claus

One of the things Kristian finds most fun about being Santa Claus is seeing the children's curious looks as they carefully try to figure out who is hiding behind the beard and red suit.

Last year, Kristian was close to being seen through, but he managed to stay in character and keep the excitement going for the children.

This year, Kristian hopes that the participants at the Christmas party will have just as good an experience as they did last year. And he will do his part to prepare for his role on the day.

– To get in the mood to be Santa Claus, last year I tried to get into the Christmas spirit by listening to some songs. But I think I will do even more of it this year. I will start listening to Christmas music from December 1st, and then I will make sure that I know all the Christmas songs by heart, says Kristian and continues:

– And maybe I'll dress up in my Christmas costume and practice acting as Santa Claus. I think I can improve it so the kids believe it a little longer than they maybe did last year.